When it comes to flashlights, versatility is the name of the game.
If you're carrying a button-cell keychain light, you can easily use it to search through your glovebox, but you can't illuminate far-away objects. On the other hand, a heavy-duty spotlight excels at long range, but good luck trying to use it to read a map without blinding yourself. There are handheld lights that occupy various positions along this spectrum, but all are compromises — a concentrated spot beam for long-distance throw, a wide floodlight for up-close uses, or a blend of the two for intermediate ranges.
This dilemma led to the development of beam-focusing flashlights, which feature a lens or reflector that moves independently from the light source to adjust the beam pattern. By pushing or twisting the bezel, these lights can transition smoothly between floodlight and spotlight beams, and can be used effectively at almost any distance.
We've come a long way from the big D-cell incandescent flashlights with rotating bezels that mostly scattered light rather than focusing it. Modern lenses and reflector arrays make the most of the light output, limiting the drawbacks compared to a fixed-bezel design.
Follow along as we shed some light on the pros and cons of these beam-focusing flashlights.
More From Issue 21
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- Swiss Army Knife Uses: Ultimate Guide To A Classic Tool
- 5 Solar Ovens That Turn Sunshine into Mealtime
- Insect Repellent 101
- A Buyer's Guide to UPF Shirts
- Building a DIY Parabolic Solar Cooker
- Beam-Focusing Flashlights – HighLights
- OffGrid Issue 21 Gear Up
- What If You're Stranded in the Desert
- 5 Survival Lessons Learned from a Veteran Officer and Trainer
- Survival Hygiene – Wilderness Wash-Up
- Strength and Conditioning for Survival Swimming
- Innova Kayak's Inflatable Halibut Review
- The Myth of Water Rationing While Stranded in the Desert
- Krav Maga Tactical Survival: Personal Safety in Action
Read articles from the next issue of Recoil Offgrid: Issue 22
Read articles from the previous issue of Recoil Offgrid: Issue 20
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Editor's Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.